Echinacea plant named ‘Balsceras’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Echinacea  plant named ‘Balsceras’, characterized by its double-type, coral-orange with purple colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Echinacea×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balsceras’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant botanically known as Echinacea×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balsceras’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Ill. during September 2007. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Echinacea cultivars with a double inflorescence form and a well-branched growth habit.

The new Echinacea×hybrida cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Echinacea×hybrida breeding selection designated ‘E41-1’, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110, characterized by its double-type, coral-purple colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is from a bulk pollen mix of four proprietary Echinacea×hybrida breeding selections designated ‘E30-3’, ‘E33-4’, ‘E39-2’, and ‘E05’, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110, characterized by their single-type, yellow, orange, red-orange, or rose-purple colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous to vigorous, upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during October 2008 in a controlled environment in Elbum, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by in vitro propagation since October 2008 in West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balsceras’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant:

-   -   1. Double-type, coral-orange with purple colored inflorescences;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in inflorescence color. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in inflorescence form and inflorescence color.

Of the many commercially available Echinacea cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Echinacea ‘Coral Reef’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,888. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Coral Reef’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have an inflorescence color         different from plants of ‘Coral Reef’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller inflorescences, as         measured by inflorescence diameter, than plants of ‘Coral Reef’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical inflorescence and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balsceras’. One plant per 1 gallon container was grown for 16 weeks in a greenhouse in Elburn, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balsceras’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balsceras’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in June 2011 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from in vitro plantlets and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in Elburn, Ill. in 1-gallon pots for 16 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 45° F. to 65° F. (7.2° C. to 18.3° C.) during the day and approximately 35° F. to 45° F. (1.7° C. to 7.2° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea×hybrida cultivar ‘Balsceras’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Echinacea×hybrida breeding             selection designated ‘E41-1’, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110.         -   Male parent.—Bulk pollen mix of four proprietary             Echinacea×hybrida breeding selections designated ‘E30-3’,             ‘E33-4’, ‘E39-2’, and ‘E05’, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro propagation is preferred, divisions are             possible.         -   Time to initiate roots in vitro.—Approximately 30 days at             18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet in summer.—Approximately             30 days at 18° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; grey to light brown in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate density, moderate branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 18 weeks from a rooted             tissue culture plantlet to finish in a 1 gallon container.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Compact-upright, narrow             inverted triangle, herbaceous perennial.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Outdoor plant performance.—Use as bedding plants or in             mixed-container plantings; at least tolerant to temperatures             up to 35° C. and hardy to USDA zone 4.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 50.4 cm. Width: Approximately 32.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—No lateral branching, flowering stems grow             from base. Quantity of main stems per plant: Approximately             3.         -   Stems.—Strength: Very strong. Aspect: Nearly erect. Shape:             Rounded. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately             28.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm. Length of central             internode: Approximately 4.8 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent             with short strigose hairs. Color of young and mature stems:             144A with streaks of 187A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, subtending with age.             Shape: Narrowly ovate. Margin: Entire, widely serrate. Apex:             Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of             mature leaf: Approximately 10.5 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 5.0 cm. Texture of upper surface: Slightly             glossy, moderately pubescent with short strigose hairs.             Texture of lower surface: Moderately pubescent with short             strigose hairs. Color of upper surface of young foliage:             Closest 137A with venation of 147D. Color of lower surface             of young foliage: 137B to 137C with venation of 147C. Color             of upper surface of mature foliage: Darker than 137A with             venation of 147D. Color of lower surface of mature foliage:             Closest to 137B with venation of 147C.         -   Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 6.0 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of upper surface:             Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Glossy, sparsely covered             with very short strigose hairs. Color of upper and lower             surfaces: Closest to 147C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balsceras’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions blooming from spring through             autumn and with limited flowering under short winter days in             a greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 3 weeks. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Solitary, double, composite.             Persistent. Shape: Hemispherical. Aspect: Facing upward.             Arrangement: Terminal, held upright on strong peduncles.             Fragrance: Faintly sweet. Quantity per plant:             Approximately 3. Height: Approximately 5.5 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 8.5 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to approximately             45° from vertical. Length: Approximately 18.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture: Moderately pubescent with             short strigose hairs. Color: 144A with streaks of 187A.         -   Bud.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 2. Shape: Flattened             globular with immature ray florets nearly erect. Length:             Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.5 cm. Color:             Outer ray florets of 145C to 145D with an overlay of 29B and             a bud center of 143A.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 21.             Arrangement: In a single whorl. Aspect: Subtending. Shape:             Narrowly elliptic to narrowly obovate. Appearance: Dull.             Margin: Entire. Apex: Three acute tips. Base: Attenuate.             Length: Approximately 3.8 cm. Width: Approximately 1.1 cm.             Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, ribbed             longitudinally. Color of upper surface when first open: 34D             with 60D at base. Color of lower surface when first open:             186A with tips of 144C. Color of upper surface when fully             open: 34D with an overlay of 60D. Color of lower surface             when fully open: 186B with tips of 144C.         -   Disc florets.—Disc diameter: Approximately 6.5 cm. Quantity             per inflorescence: Approximately 500. Arrangement: Spirally             arranged in center of inflorescence. Shape: Tubular. Margin             of free portion: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base: Fused             into a tube. Length: Approximately 2.4 cm. Diameter at apex:             Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of upper or             inner surface when first open: 16B with an overlay of 29B:             Color of lower or outer surface when first open: 145D at             base transitioning to 34D at apex. Color of upper or inner             surface when fully open: 34D with 60A on margins. Color of             lower or outer surface when fully open: 145D at base with an             overlay of 186B beginning at midpoint extending to apex.         -   Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 1.5 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 2.1 cm. Color: 155D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 50.             Arrangement: In three whorls. Appearance: Dull, stiff.             Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate, strongly curved towards             the peduncle. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.             Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm.             Texture of upper or inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of             lower or outer surface: Glabrous with margins moderately to             densely pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of upper             surface: 137A. Color of lower surface: 137B.         -   Receptacle spines.—Number of spines per disc:             Approximately 500. Shape: Acicular. Length: Approximately             1.4 cm. Width at widest point: Approximately 2.0 mm. Apex:             Acute. Base: Attenuate. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Apex of             167B tipped with 187C, mid-section of 144A, and base of             145D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Vestigial. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: No particular resistance or     susceptibility to other diseases or insects noted to date. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘Balsceras’, substantially as herein shown and described. 